Post on 26-Dec-2015
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SUSTAINABILITYWhat does it look like for successful VISTA projects?
How can we, as VISTAs, make our projects more sustainable?
A frequently used buzzword with lots of meanings…
But what does in mean in the context of VISTA?
VISTA is all about using a short-term resource to make a long-term impact
Your host site should have a long-term
vision of the results they want to see
from your VISTA project.
As a VISTA, your job is to invest
your time (and skills, ideas and
energy) to build infrastructure that will help your organization (and the community) in the long run.
ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDINGCapacity Building Activity: Mingle & Match
Capacity Building
Definition:
Tasks and activities to create, expand, or strengthen an organization’s systems or processes.
These tasks and activities include the transfer of knowledge/skills, products, and relationships.
Capacity building allows the organization and the community to sustain the VISTA’s project activities once the project period has ended.
Information gained by the VISTA member during his/her term of service is passed along to other people in an organization in a deliberately designed way.
Deliverables created by the VISTA member during his/her term of service are passed along to other people in an organization in a deliberately designed way.
Professional contacts developed by the VISTA member during his/her term of service are passed along to other people in an organization in a deliberately designed way.
The act of providing services to the identified recipients or clients of a program.
Capacity Building Concepts
7
Transfer of Knowledge
Transfer of Products
Transfer of Relationships
Direct Service
In your groups:
1. How does your key term support the sustainability of a VISTA project?
2. What activities build capacity in this area?
3. What activities lead to a transfer…• Of knowledge?
• For example: creating a manual
• Of skills?• For example: a training program
• Of products?• For example: an up-to-date and organized file-sharing system
• Of relationships?• For example: a donor database with detailed notes
When Is Direct Service Appropriate?
1) A brief period of direct service is necessary to understand the service elements of the sponsoring organization
2) Direct service is incidental to the time and effort in carrying out the primary responsibilities of the member assignment
3) Direct service is necessary to train direct-service providers
Acceptable Services vs. Capacity Building Activities and Sustainable Activities
Acceptable Service Capacity Building Sustainable Activities
Recruit Volunteers Develop forms, Volunteer assignments
Develop Volunteer Handbook
Train Direct Service Providers
Write Training curriculum or train the trainer curriculum
Develop Training Manual
Coordinate Projects Develop procedures and systems for coordinating projects
Develop volunteer management system and procedural guide
Public Speaking Develop speakers' bureau Develop community partners
Write press releases Develop press kits, media database
Secure media partners
Organize fundraising events Grant writing; develop database
Secure project staff through additional funding
Organize task forces/coalitions
Develop structure of task force/coalition
Create infrastructure
Conduct outreach Design brochures, posters Create mechanism for project evaluation
What does a sustainable capacity-building VISTA project look like?
Two types of VISTA sustainability
VISTAs accomplish capacity-building goals and then work
themselves out of a job
VISTAs put the work in up front to expand program capacity and set
others up for success to maintain it
VISTA projects often contain a little of both of these.
Need some examples?
Examples of VISTA projects
Creating long-lasting deliverables or systems that will allow a host site to do more with less time and money, i.e.
• Developing a marketing and outreach plan, easily-updated marketing materials, and an instruction manual for staff
• Developing or revamping websites to better serve the needs of users• Creating an online system for volunteers to log in and out and record data
electronically – cutting down on staff time needed• Researching, identifying and implementing a commercially-available system for
data management• Systematizing curriculum and making it more accessible
• Increasing efficiency
Examples of VISTA projects
Completing projects that will increase the quality of services and improve student outcomes, i.e.
• Conducting formal or informal community assessment, surveys, focus groups or interviews – to identify needs of target population and where there might be gaps or room for improvement in services
• Researching, collecting, compiling and/or developing curriculum and materials that can be used with students
• Developing a volunteer manual, other instructional materials or a training module
• Increasing effectiveness
Examples of VISTA projects
Building partnerships and collaborations
Building an org’s capacity for volunteer engagement, i.e.• Creating volunteer position descriptions & outreach materials• Identifying sources for volunteer recruitment, building relationships with
organizations that can provide volunteer referrals• Creating systems and materials for recruiting, placing, training, supporting,
recognizing and tracking volunteers
Building an org’s capacity to leverage financial and in-kind resources• Researching grant opportunities, developing materials and systems that support
grant-writing over the long term• Developing new fundraising opportunities
• Leveraging resources
Examples of VISTA projects
Program development or expansion• Developing a new program • Expanding an existing program to more participants or a new group• Adding new services to an existing program
Including:• All of the front-end work that goes into researching, planning, gathering
resources, communicating with stakeholders, and getting programming rolling• Working out the “kinks,” putting systems in place and making recommendations
for future improvements• Gathering data to demonstrate the need for this new/expanded program and/or
to show its impact
• Expanding scale/reach
Which kind(s) of project(s) do you have?
Creating long-lasting deliverables or systems that will allow a host site to do more with less time and money
Completing projects that will increase the quality of services and improve student outcomes
Building:• partnerships and collaborations• capacity for volunteer engagement• capacity to leverage financial and
in-kind resources
Program development or expansion
WHAT CAN I DO AS A VISTA TO MAKE MY PROJECT MORE SUSTAINABLE?
First of all, take a step back and take a deep
breath.
Keep in mind:• It’s not all on your shoulders. It’s mainly your host site’s
responsibility to ensure your project is sustainable, and anyway you can’t do it all on your own.
• Sustainability does not mean ensuring that everything you do in your full-time position continues. That’s why your role is as a “short term resource” and not a long-term staff position.
• Oftentimes your role as VISTA is to try out new ideas, and new ideas don’t always work. That’s very important for your host site to learn – so don’t consider it a failure if some things you tried don’t get continued.
• Things won’t stay exactly the same, even if you are incredibly successful with your project. Things grow and change over time. Learn to let go!
• So what can you do? Let’s think about this together:
Seven Steps to Sustainability*
*Adapted from the Corporation for National and Community Service
1. Get Things Done Well
What plans can you put in place to make sure others continue to use the systems and materials you’ve created?
2. Develop and Support Strong Community Partnerships
How do you foster greater collaboration between different groups to ensure your project priorities don’t hinge on your participation?
3. Re-examine Program Design
How can gathering feedback make your program/project more sustainable?
4. Empower Communities
How can you empower others to take more of a leadership role to sustain your project goals?
How can you get community members to be more invested?
5. Share Program ImpactsHow can sharing your success help to make your program/project sustainable?
Can you think of others
who could be champions
of your project goals?
6. Increase Awareness of Programs:
What methods do you use to inform the public of your program/project?
Which seem to be the most effective? What other media channels could you take advantage of?
7. Generate Resources
What opportunities are there to increase resources during the remainder of your year?
So, in sum:• Concentrate on what is within your power to do during the
rest of this year.• Get help from others, especially your supervisor.• Plan ahead.• Prioritize. • Focus on collaboration and communication.• Work on putting together a helpful Green Book.
Sustainability Binder/Green Book
Green Book: Overall Layout• Think about categories and
organizing what is relevant to your program/project
• Table of Contents– Sample sections:
• Program Information• Member/Volunteer Support• Trainings & Events• Reporting & Evaluating• Recruitment• Policies• Procedures• Communications & Marketing
– Flyers, brochures, media mentions
Green Book: Tips & Tricks
• Form Emails• How-to guides• Organizing information
by questions (FAQ):“How do I ________?”“What to do if _______”
• Add file paths to footerC://myfolder1/myfolder2/myfile.doc
What other ideas do you have of things to include or avoid?Any Questions?
THANK YOU!• Stick around to check out some sample green books
• Any questions for Amy or Ellen?
• Social hour at Tracy’s Saloon! 4:15pm – 6:00pm. Hope to see you there!